Any Major Soul 1986
I was not going to do an Any Major Soul 1986, given the absence of comments over the past few years. But at the end of the year, a reader asked that I continue the series. I’m glad he did, and I loved putting this mix together. 1986 was not a year of transition and innovation, but it was a fine vintage for soul music.
Maze, led by the late, great Frankie Beverley, released their second live double-album, Live In LA. It was every bit the equal of their classic Live In New Orleans set from 1981. The Manhattans, (featuring here in a duet with Regina Belle), The Temptations and George Benson were still around, as were Beau Williams (whose Elvina was a big soul hit in 1982), and the Crown Heights Affair, whose recording career was nearing its end.
Luther Vandross finally hit the big time with his glossily-produced Give Me The Reason album. Much of it was likable soul-pop and superb soul balladry; the featured track, See Me was a true soul groove number.
Freddie Jackson consolidated his success in 1985 with five consecutive US R&B #1 hits from his Just Like The First Time album, including his lovely duet with Melba Moore, A Little Bit More, which features here. In the UK, he had a breakthrough in 1986 with Rock Me Tonight, a US Top 20 hit the previous year.
The breakout star of 1986 was Anita Baker. Her sophomore album, Rapture, was flawless, with Baker fusing her naturally jazzy vocals with a soul sensibility. The other soul singer making it big in 1986 was Alexander O’Neal, but since his debut album was issued in 1985, as was his hit with Cherelle, Saturday Love, he doesn’t feature here (of course, he was on Any Major Soul 1985 as well as on Any Major Albums 1985). Well, he actually does feature here — unmistakably as a backing vocalist on The S.O.S. Band’s The Finest, produced by Jam & Lewis, who also produced O’Neal.
Other soul acts broke big in 1986, but few followed on from that success. Oran Jones, inevitably nicknamed “Juice”, turned out to be a one-hit wonder with his spectacularly misogynistic The Rain, which one must hope is a parody rather than an expression of Mr Jones’ character. Either way, it has a great groove, and some fabulous one-liners (“you without me is like corn flakes without the milk!”), delivered with relish (“You gotta get on outta here with that alley-cat-coat wearin’ Hush-Puppy-shoe-wearing crumb cake I saw you with”). Don’t touch that coat!
Gregory Abbot, ex-husband of soul legend Freda Payne, gave up a career as a professor in English at the University of Berkeley to pursue his vocation as a soul singer-songwriter. He had a huge hit in 1986 with Shake You Down, and his debut album of the same name was a best-seller. But after that, Abbot largely disappeared from the charts. Abbot’s last album, his fifth, came out in 2011.
Another soul act that broke through in 1986 was the trio Surface. Happy was their first pop hit, reaching #20 in the US (written by the members of Surface, it had first been recorded by UK funk group Hi-Tension in 1984). They went on to have more success, especially with the US #1 hit The First Time in 1990, and a #5 the previous year with Shower Me With Your Love, both sweetly-soppy ballads.
Two acts here represent UK soul. The wonderful Ruby Turner features with her magnificent cover of I’d Rather Go Blind, apparently issued on single “by popular demand”. Jaki Graham duets with Derek Bramble. Her partner was no lucky hanger-on. Bramble wrote all but one of the tracks on Jaki’s Breaking Free album, produced it, arranged it, co-engineered it, played bass on all tracks, and keyboards and guitar on some, and contributed vocals on two duets and backing vocals on most. Previously he had co-produced David Bowie’s Tonight album.
As always, this mix is timed to fit on a standard CD-R and includes home-raptured covers and the above text in PDF format. PW in Comments.
1. Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly – Happy Feelings (live)
2. Luther Vandross – See Me
3. Anita Baker – Same Ole Love
4. Freddie Jackson & Melba Moore – Just A Little Bit More
5. Gregory Abbot – I Got The Feelin’ (It’s Over)
6. The Manhattans feat. Regina Belle – Where Did We Go Wrong
7. The Temptations – Lady Soul
8. Surface – Happy
9. Oran ‘Juice’ Jones – The Rain
10. Epicenter feat. Sandra Feva – You Can’t Come Up In Here No More
11. Beau Williams – All Because You
12. Gwen Guthrie – You Touched My Life
13. Jaki Graham & Derek Bramble – Let’s Get Blue
14. Ruby Turner – I’d Rather Go Blind
15. George Benson – Kisses In The Moonlight
16. Crown Heights Affair – Make Me The One
17. S.O.S. Band – The Finest
It is a crime that your marvelous collections don’t get more comments than they do. Unfortunately I’m not the biggest fan of the soul music, especially in the 80’s, so I don’t have a lot to say here. But thanks for keeping up with these collections. It’s always something great to listen to.
Thanks for uploading this. I do enjoy your soul uploads. Please keep them coming.
Most of these songs didn’t have any success in France. “The Rain” is hilarious (in a strange way) and infectious. Thanks for all your uploads !
I think you have a number of winners here. I especially enjoy the Maze live inclusion and the Anita Baker piece. Additionally, I’d almost forgotten about Surface’s “Happy.” Another superb collection here, so you know. This is good stuff. This is good riding music. You’ve done well, sir.